Christmas trees
The Northern Neck Rotary Club will sell Christmas trees beginning Friday, November 24, at 63 North Main Street, Kilmarnock, until all trees and wreaths are sold. The Rotary lot will offer Frasier firs until all trees and wreaths are sold out.
Lot hours are 2 p.m. to dark Mondays through Fridays; 10 a.m. to dark Saturdays; and 1 p.m. to dark Sundays.
Tree festival
The 20th anniversary Festival of the Trees event will be held Thursday, November 30, through Saturday, December 2, at the Northern Neck Family YMCA, 39 William B. Graham Court, Kilmarnock. The event will open with a free open house November 30 featuring holiday music, refreshments, silent auction and door prizes.
The festival will conclude December 2 with a gala and auction finale from 7 to 10 p.m., featuring local cuisine and beverages. Gala tickets are $50. For tickets to the gala, email liz.allen@peninsulaymca.org, or call 435-0223.
Wreaths
The Chesapeake Bay Garden Club will make and sell boxwood wreaths and trees Thursday, November 30, at Festival Halle, 177 Main Street, Reedville. Wreaths are $25 each and additional bows are $3 each.
To order, contact Sharon Lemke at salemke@va.metrocast.net, or visit chesbaygc.org. Wreaths can be claimed from 1 to 3 p.m. November 30.
Wall of Honor
Throughout November, Rappahannock Westminster-Canterbury will salute residents who served the country with a Veterans Wall of Honor exhibit in the facility’s Gallery Hall. Residents and community members are invited to view the Veterans Wall of Honor exhibition from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.
Fifty-one veterans who served in World War II, Korea, Vietnam and/or the cold war will be featured. Each display includes a photo of the resident in uniform, when available, along with a current photo and short biography.
Chorale concerts
The Chesapeake Chorale will present Christmas concerts at 8 p.m. December 1 at Northumberland High School, 201 Academic Lane, Claraville, and December 2 at Lancaster Middle School, 191 School Street, Kilmarnock; and 3 p.m. December 3 at St. Clare Walker Middle School, 6814 General Puller Highway, Locust Hill. Tickets will be $10 each in advance at area banks and at the door.
First Friday
The RAL Art Center, 19 North Main Street, Kilmarnock, will host First Friday reception and holiday party from 4 to 7 p.m. December 1.
Browse the Holiday Shop for great gift ideas, meet some of the exhibiting artists and enjoy light refreshments. The public is welcome; admission is free.
DIY arts & crafts night
The RAL Art Center, 19 North Main Street, Kilmarnock, will host a Do It Yourself Arts & Crafts Night from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. December 2. Patrons will be given two wine glasses to paint or etch.
Instructors will be Kendra Hunt and Marilyn Sprouse. Patrons may bring a beverage of their choice. Snacks will be provided. For fees and registration, visit the center, or call 436-9309.
Country breakfast
Lancaster Union Lodge #88 A.F. & A.M. will serve an all-you-can-eat country breakfast from 7 to 10 a.m. December 9 at the Lodge, 48 North Main Street, Kilmarnock.
The fee is $10. Ages 5 and younger, uniformed military and law enforcement eat free.
English Tea
The Friends of the Northumberland Public Library (NPL) will sponsor an English Tea from 3 to 5 p.m. December 3 at Westlawn, 7232 Northumberland Highway, Heathsville.
Tickets are available at NPL, 7204 Northumberland Highway, Heathsville. Tickets are $40 each. The event will focus on the Christmas spirit of giving. Proceeds will benefit the Northumberland Public Library Tech Mobile.
Tree of Love
Richmond County Museum will hold its “Tree of Love Celebration and Holiday Illumination” at 5 p.m. December 3 at the 1748 Courthouse, Richmond Road, Warsaw. The Rev. Torrence Harman will be the guest speaker. Special music will be provided by Farnham and St. John’s choir and Arline Hinkson, violinist.
Individuals support this event by purchasing red, green and white lights which are placed on the live evergreen in the courtyard between the courthouse and the museum. Names of honorees are read aloud. There will be caroling and refreshments. Lights may be purchased by calling the museum, 333-3607.
Holiday music
The Northumberland County Historical Society will offer “Holiday Music with the Bell Choir from Melrose Methodist Church” at 2:30 p.m. December 3 at the Society’s Ball Memorial Library and Museum, 86 Back Street, Heathsville. Members and the public are welcome.
After the free performance, a selection of books and Christmas harp CDs will be offered for sale to benefit the historical society and refreshments will be served.
Christmas parade
The 39th annual Kilmarnock Lighted Christmas Parade will step off at 7 p.m. December 8. Pre-parade activities start with music and refreshments along Main Street at 5:30 p.m. Santa will be available to children from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. at the Kilmarnock Volunteer Fire Department firehouse, 71 School Street, Kilmarnock.
The route starts at Chesapeake Commons Shopping Center, continues along Main Street to Irvington Road and ends on School Street. There will be no parking along Main Street in Steptoe’s District after 6 p.m. Lancaster Square and Chesapeake Commons will close for both entrance and exiting at 6:45 p.m. until the parade concludes around 8 p.m.
Hot chocolate
Lancaster Union Lodge #88 A.F. & A.M. will sell hot chocolate from 6 to 8 p.m. December 8, the night of the 39th annual Kilmarnock Lighted Christmas Parade.
The Lodge will offer the “counties’ best hot chocolate,” topped with marshmallows or real whipped cream in front of the Lodge, 48 North Main Street, Kilmarnock.
Gifts needed
Bring Christmas joy to local families. Donations of new and gently-used gifts are needed by Rice’s Hotel/Hughlett’s Tavern, 73 Monument Place, Heathsville, for their “Golden Village Christmas” event on December 2. The Tavern offers a $1 children’s shopping area for children ages 4 to 12.
Help from the community is needed to make it happen. All donations are gratefully accepted and there is a special need for men’s and children’s gifts. Donations may be brought to the Tavern Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Pancakes with Santa
All children are invited to have pancakes and photos with Santa from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. December 9 at the Lancaster Union #88 Masonic Lodge, 48 North Main Street, Kilmarnock. Donations will be accepted.
Winter Wonderland
The Town of White Stone will ring in the Christmas season with the annual Winter Wonderland Celebration from 4 to 7 p.m. December 9 at the Village Green on Rappahannock Drive, White Stone.
There will be caroling, food and tree lighting. Santa will arrive at 5:30 p.m.
Lessons and carols
Christchurch School will present its 37th annual Festival of Lessons and Carols at 4 and 6:15 p.m. December 10 in St. Peter’s Chapel on the school campus, 49 Seahorse Lane, Christchurch. The festival will include performances by Cantorion, the St. Peter’s Chapel Choir and student and faculty soloists.
The public is invited. For reservations, contact the school, ccsevents@christchurchschool.org, or 758-2306, ext. 134.
Mistletoe and Mimosas
The Reedville Fishermen’s Museum will kick off Christmas on Cockrell’s Creek with “Mistletoe and Mimosas,” a fashion show and luncheon at 10:30 a.m. December 8 at Festival Halle, 177 Main Street, Reedville.
The event will feature fashions by Dream’s Fashion Boutique in Burgess. Tickets are $30 each and may be purchased at Fashion Boutique.
On Stage
The Rappahannock Foundation for the Arts 2017-18 On Stage series will present the John Brown Little Big Band, ‘Holiday in Swing’ Concert on December 16 at the Lancaster Middle School Theater, 191 School Street, Kilmarnock. Upcoming concerts will include MozART, March 9; and Sons of Serendip, April 14.
Admission is by season subscription, or $39, if tickets are available. To purchase tickets, call 438-5555, or visit rappahannockfoundation.org.
Nouvelet concerts
The Nouvelet Chamber Choir will present their eighth annual Christmas concerts at 5 p.m. December 16 and 17 at White Stone United Methodist Church, 118 Methodist Church Road, White Stone.
The 14-member choir will perform sacred seasonal music under the direction of Brenda Burtner and accompanist Marynell Ivey. Donations are gratefully accepted to return to the community.
Paint night: Light Up Canvas
The RAL Art Center, 19 North Main Street, Kilmarnock, will host a paint night from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. December 15. The topic will be “Light Up Canvas.” The instructor will be Kendra Hunt. Participants will be given a canvas, battery operated lights and options to trace a design or sketch their own, using acrylic paints and brushes to complete a 16 x 20 canvas painting.
Patrons may bring a beverage of their choice. Snacks will be provided. For fees and registration, visit the center, or call 436-9309.
Motown show
American Legion Post 241 and Creative Productions will present Motown & Friends Flashback Lip-sync Show December 16 at St. Clare Walker Middle School, 6814 General Puller Highway, Locust Hill. A food and dance party with DJ Wayne Jessie will be held from 3 to 4:45 p.m. The show will start at 5 p.m.
Tickets are $15. To purchase tickets, call William Bagby, 824-8921; Cynthia Beverley, 815-8426; Kelvin Taylor, 776-7691; or Vincent Carter, 757-751-3900.
Veterans’ breakfast
Commonwealth Senior Living at Farnham, 511 Cedar Grove Road, Farnham, hosts a Veterans’ Breakfast at 9 a.m. on second Tuesdays. Participants are urged to RSVP at 394-2102.